Chantix/Champix - Nasty side effects

Have you read about the physiological side effect of Chantix....it is mind blowing, and especially if you already have a few issues with depression etc Bad Side Effects of Chantix | LIVESTRONG.COM. Do yourself a favour and read these. It also take a very long time to get out of your system, doubled with the fact that you are in NML.... My sympathies are with you, and feel that armed with the right information, you will be able to deal with your current circumstances so much better.

I have first hand knowledge of these side effects, as both my husband and myself gave up together with the assitance of Champix,and all of a sudden my husband turned completely and utterly phyco on me....even at my birthday party he went absolutely mad pushing people and shouting and abusive. I have never in our 25 years of marriage seen him like this. A very good friend who was witness to this, then sent me an article about Chantix (in South Africa it is called Champix). I was completely blown away and sent this onto my husband. Then it all came out, he has been falling out at work, had road rage incidences and various other things had been going on. He immediately stopped taking it, but it took a very long to to exit his system and for him to even begin to feel normal again, he was very depressed. I on the other hand did not have the same symptoms at all. I was only taking half a tablet in the morning and half at night, so very mild dose for about 3 weeks only. With all of the information in hand, he was able to guide himself and realise that this was not him, but the drug that had taken hold. Please arm yourself with this information and the people around you and you will be amazed at how you suddenly realize what has happened to you. GOOGLE about, for some people its fantastic (worked for me) for others it is a complete disaster to you and your life.....Below is an exert of one persons view..

For Smoking Cessation"Here is what nicotine does to your brain... Nicotine also can have effects on the parts of the brain that sense pleasure. When nicotine gets into the brain, it is able to stimulate the release of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine activates some of the neurons in the part of the brain that register pleasure. As a result, nicotine triggers a chemical sensation of pleasure, which causes people to associate tobacco use with a feeling of pleasure. Here is what Chantix does to it... Chantix messes with the part of the brain that senses pleasure, looks forward to things, has hope for tomorrow. It takes that all away. I took Chantix and the effects were catastrophic. Needed three meds to counter it. Stay away!"

Please, I truely hope that this helps, not only you, but a lot of other people that are on this site. Like any drugs you take, some can work for you and some can totally alter your mindset and harm you, it all just depends.

Good luck with the Non-Smoking and keep it up....Dont slip backward, go only forwards and I hope that you find the help you need to get through this truely horrible time.

Thanks Free2BU and CONGRATS TO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND ON RECOVERING FROM NICOTINE AND MEDS.... also just sharing the LOVE of info please check out videos at whyquit.com with Joel and who also has many articles to read for yourselves please do not take MY word on it... there are articles these drugs you shared about and many more articles on NICOTINE addiction FYI it was SUGGESTED in MY early RECOVERY from those here STAYING QUIT to go there and educate MYSELF on MY nicotine addiction SUGGESTED to read there and it is ALL FREE and Joel has been working over 45 YEARS HELPING with NICOTINE ADDICTIONS there is a FREE book by Joel title is NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF which I read YEARS ago and I go read and still remain open minded to keep LEARNING just giving it all away to you and your husband for spiritual tools to STAY QUIT NO MATTER WHAT TOGETHER please check it out for yourselves to be HELPFUL is MY only aim... please keep on keeping on

Congratulations on your quit and thanks for sharing this information. I never took Chantix and only, personally, knew one person who did and that was my son. He has suffered with clinical depression and anxiety disorders for years and Chantix magnified everything and made it seriously impossible to be around him. His wife and I BOTH were about to tear our hair out. I am sorry to say that he is back to smoking but I would NEVER recommend that HE use Chantix. I think others have been very successful and have gotten past the side effects and adverse reactions but it is always good to be informed. I am glad that your husband is doing better and that he had YOU to help him along the way.

Very good info! I've mentioned on this site that chantix did really eliminate my desire to smoke, I did stop taking it after a few weeks.. it gave me horrible nightmares and took my mind to some pretty dark places. Like you, I also know people who took it without any consequence.

Another good lesson that there is no ONE way to do things, and we are all beautiful and unique individuals - each individual has to carve her own path:-)

i think the most important thing with chantix is to be mindful of your "inner workings" and notify your provider of things change...

My Dr. suggested Chantix but after seeing the commercials on TV every night and hearing the side effects, I said 'No Thanks'! Instead, I took Wellbutrin (Zyban). No bad side effects (just dry mouth and a touch of insomnia); both have disappeared. It really, really helped with the cravings. I'm still taking it at 32 days of freedom and since the dr. said I can take it as along as I want/need to, I'm thinking I'll stop once I get through No Man's Land.

Thank you for the information and congratulations to both of you on your quit. A few months ago I was telling my Dr. how frustrated I was with smoking and my quits. She suggested Chantix. I went to Costco to fill the prescription and with insurance it was $350, so I said no thanks. My therapist in the meantime told me DO NOT take that drug. I have been on Wellbutrin for a few years for depression. She added something new called Buspar a few weeks ago for my anxiety/panic attacks and I feel like it is finally kicking in, as I have been feeling much better the past week or so, and thinking it may be helping with my final quit.